Cynthia Morris

https://originalimpulse.com

Age: 43

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Quote: “People always, always were shocked that I was doing this alone.”

How did you find out about Vagabonding, and how did you find it useful before and during the trip? I love to travel and found the book at the library. I loved how Rolf made it seem doable – giving lots of practical advice and encouragement. I used it mostly before I traveled, as I didn’t take a lot of books with me.

How long were you on the road? 11 months

Where all did you go? Milan (3 times), Lisbon, all over Portugal, Berlin, Cologne, Paris, south of France, Madrid, Granada, Girona, Antwerp, Amsterdam, London, Panama.

What was your job or source of travel funding for this journey? I own my own business, and it’s mostly online so I was able to work from anywhere. I was traveling when the recession hit, and was fortunate to get a $10,000 editing job which gave me a nice cushion. I worked from the beach in Portugal! That said, I left home with only $2,500 in my account, though I had a lot of clients when I left, that tapered off as the economy tanked.

Did you work or volunteer on the road? Just doing my own work, and also speaking at conferences in London, Antwerp and Panama.

Of all the places you visited, which was your favorite? I fell in love with and in Lisbon, so I ended up spending five months in Portugal. It was great to get to know that country the way I did. But I really fell in love with Berlin and would love to go back.

Was there a place that was your least favorite, or most disappointing, or most challenging? Panama was a lot different than Europe. I didn’t feel as safe and it was hard to see the poverty. I’d never been to Central America.

Did any of your pre-trip worries or concerns come true?  Did you run into any problems or obstacles that you hadn’t anticipated? No, things went better than expected. I used Couchsurfing to meet people and that made my experience incredible. The biggest problem was the worldwide economy tanking! I also didn’t really like being nomadic; after awhile, I wanted to be in one place. I guess I had hoped to find a new home in Europe and was disappointed to return home. Largely I came home because I needed more stability and also it was getting expensive.

Which travel gear proved most useful?  Least useful? My laptop, though it died in Paris, which was another reason to come home. I don’t know…that was before I had my Flip, which I now use all the time when I travel. I didn’t have a lot of gear. I wish I had had a neti pot, but other than that, I traveled pretty lightly. Of course, once the season changed, I needed to buy a coat, etc.

What are the rewards of the vagabonding lifestyle? Feeling like you can do anything; the confidence it gives you really makes a difference. When I came home, I thought, I can do anything. Meeting new people, exploring, living outside the box and encouraging others to do the same.

What are the challenges and sacrifices of the vagabonding lifestyle? Community, or lack thereof, was a big challenge. It got lonely, especially when I housesat in a remote village in France for two months during the winter. I got a lot of work done and was able to talk to friends regularly, but still, it got lonely.

What lessons did you learn on the road? Friends are more important than anything. Sometimes what looks cool to others – living in Europe – isn’t as great as you hoped it would be.

It was incredibly hard coming back. It felt like more than counter culture shock. It really was hard to try to figure out how to orient myself. Being a coach and a writer, I wrote an e-book about it – how to make the most of a trip after you come home. It’s called The Graceful Return.

I also just LOVE how easy it is to travel and explore the world. It was so cool to be able to blog about it all while doing it – JourneyJuju.com. It made me a better writer and photographer.

How did your personal definition of “vagabonding” develop over the course of the trip? I came to call myself a Creative Nomad and people were always interested in that. I’m an artist and creativity coach, so the whole thing was a lesson in being creative. I don’t know…I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to do that. By that I mean, single white American female who has the freedom to travel. People always, always were shocked that I was doing this alone.

If there was one thing you could have told yourself before the trip, what would it be? You’re not going to believe the amazing things that are going to happen – falling in love with a hot latin lover, becoming a rock climber and swinging from the cliffs of Portugal with a view on the ocean, meeting people you are still friends with, learning that you can do more than you think. It’s going to be a blast!

Any advice or tips for someone hoping to embark on a similar adventure? The less stuff you take, the happier you are. Connect with locals through couchsurfing or other organizations – it makes a huge difference.

When and where do you think you’ll take your next long-term journey? Well, I return to Europe every year now for at least a month. I came back to Denver in April 09 and that autumn, I took a five-week trip around Europe. This year, I was in Europe for two four-week trips. I like that a lot better – going for a good period of time and then coming home. Of course, I am working while over there. I’d love to spend three weeks traveling in a new place for me – SE Asia would be great.

Are you a Vagabonding reader planning, in the middle of, or returning from a journey? Would you like your travel blog or website to be featured on Vagabonding Case Studies? If so, drop us a line at casestudies@vagabonding.net and tell us a little about yourself.